Multiple use geometrical shape



June 1969 P. s. (LTONRAD ETAL 3,450,592

MULTIPLE USE GEOMETRICAL 'SHAPE Filed Oct. 20, 1967 Peter .5. Conrad Arthur .SI Conrad INVENTORS United States Patent 3,450,592 MULTIPLE USE GEOME'IRICAL SHAPE Peter S. Conrad and Arthur S. Conrad, Baldwin, Md., as-

signors to Plykon Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Filed Oct. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 676,965

Int. Cl. D04d 7/04 US. Cl. 161-7 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A three dimension geometric shape or form constructed from a two dimension geometric figure (a planar blank) by following a prescribed technique. The geometric shape is in the form of a cubical body combined with the corners of a cube disposed in truncated portions of the body.

The present invention generally relates to a geometrical shape having multiple uses and specifically relates to the structure of the geometrical shape and the manner in which the geometrical shape is formed from a single planar blank. The three dimensional geometric form has a definite mathematical relationship to a two dimensional geometric figure (the planar blank), regardless of the proportion of the eight circles or of the eight three-sided corners.

An object of the present invention is to provide a geometrical shape in the form of a cubical body combined with the corners of a cube in which the corners of the cube are disposed in truncated portions of the body to provide a novel geometric shape which is constructed from a single fiat sheet of paper, cardboard or the like to enable the purchaser to set up the geometrical shape from the flat blank as a do-it-yourself project.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a geometrical shape in the form of a truncated cubical body with a corner of a cube disposed in each truncated portion of the body with the corners of the cube extending beyond the periphery of the body so that the corners will engage a supporting surface as the body is rolled thereon in the manner of a ball thus making a noise and causing the body to move in a somewhat erratic path and the truncated areas as well as the corners also serve to provide a handhold for enabling the body to be picked up by a small child and manipulated in the normal manner. The three-dimensional geometric form, being essentially that of a modified cube, capable of being rolled farther than a cube and more erratically than a sphere, can be used as a die in various dice games, including new types of such games.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a geometrical shape including a cubical body with the corners of a cube disposed in truncated areas and joined with the body by inclined transition or conical portions which may be employed as a hanging novelty item and also as a lighting fixture with various lighting effects being produced by controlled lighting at the cube corners with the various portions of the structure being variably colored to enhance the esthetic effect when the device is illuminated as well as when it is not illuminated.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a geometrical shape which is simple in construction, easy to make, ornamental and functional in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

3,450,592 Patented June 17, 1969 FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the geometrical shape of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of a metrical shape; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the geometrical shape of the present invention is constructed.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the multiple use geometric shape of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and includes a cubical hollow body 12 having a plurality of truncated areas 14 with each of the truncated areas being defined by an inwardly inclined peripheral wall 16 merging with and joining with a projection 18 in the form of a corner of a cube which includes three wall surfaces 20, 22 and 24 which are generally perpendicular to each other where they join with each other and provided with bases which are arcuate as at 26 conforming with the curved inner edge of the inclined wall 16. Thus, the wall surfaces 20, 22 and 24 are generally triangular with the bottom line or edge thereof being arcuately curved from end to end and also arcuately bulged outwardly slightly to follow the curvature of the inclined wall 16.

The body surface 12 may be colored one distinguishable color while the inclined wall portions 16 may be of different compatible or contrasting colors and the surfaces 20, 22 and 24 may also be of different colors thereby providing a highly attractive geometrical shape which may be employed as a toy ball or the like, a hanging ornament, a light fixture or for any other purpose de sired. The truncated portions 14 form flattened areas on the cubical body 12 and the corners 18 project beyond the plane of the truncated portion 14 thus causing the corners to engage a supporting surface in the event the geometrical shape is rolled on such a surface thereby causing the shape to move in an erratic path and cause noise. The completed device may be constructed of any suitable materials and the structure thereof may be employed as a lighting fixture with a source of illumination disposed interiorly thereof and by coloring or otherwise forming the various components thereof including the corners 18 of various materials and with various color properties, a lighting fixture or lamp may be provided having an extremely attractive appearance.

One embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of the geometric shape in the form of a single blank of sheet material generally designated by the numeral 30 and being constructed of paper, lightweight cardboard or other similar material which may be supplied to the ultimate consumer so that the ultimate consumer may set up the geometrical shape from the planar blank 30.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the planar blank is a rectangle of which the length is twice the width. The length is divided into eight equal parts and the width into four equal parts. Using these points of division, the rectangle is divided into 32 squares by drawing lines from points A through K, perpendicular to their edges of origin. The points of intersection of the line drawn from point A with lines drawn from points D, F, H and K and the points of intersection of the line drawn from point C with lines drawn from points D, F, H and K, will serve as centers of eight equal circles 46 having a radius approximately /5 less than the width of one square.

An are 48 is struck in the quarter of each circle formed by the lines of the squares. The center for striking each arc is the circumferential mid-point M of the opposite quadrant of the circle. These points can be determined by drawing diagonals through the squares in both directions. The radius of the arcs can be such that the line of the arc will meet the line of the square at a point about of the radius of the circle away from the circumference of the circle.

portion of the geo- The circles are scored for folding outward. The arcs within the circles will fold inward. The portions of the lines A through K which connect intersections of the arcs with the centers of the circles, Will be folded outward to form the corners within the inverted cones. The areas of the planar rectangle enclosed by lines A, D and F, and by A, H and K; by C, D and F and by C, H and K, will be removed, except for the necessary adhesive tabs hereinafter described.

Panel 40 is provided with an L-shaped adhesive tab 54 having one end thereof attached centrally of the edge of the panel 40 and having the other end thereof extending alongside one end edge of the portion 34 with the end portion of the tab 54 being recessed as at 56. The two legs defining the L-shaped tab 54 are provided with a centrally disposed fold line 58. Also disposed on the edge of the panel 40 is a narrower adhesive tab 60 and a relatively short tab 62 alongside of the tab 60. As illustrated in FIG. 3, there is a tab 60 and a tab 62 on each side of the L-shaped tab 54. On the opposite edge of the panel 40, there is provided a centrally disposed elongated tab 64 having a central fold line 66 and on both sides of the tab 64, there is provided a relatively narrow tab 68 and a shorter tab 70 of the same width as the tab 68. Thus, there are five tabs on each side of the panel 40. On one side, there are two tabs 60 and 62 and the tab 54 and on the other side, there are two tabs 68 and 70 and one tab 64.

Panel 44 is provided with the same tab arrangement except that the tab arrangement on panel 44 is oppositely arranged as compared with the tab arrangement on panel 40. For purposes of clarity, the association of the tabs with the adjacent portion of the blank are illustrated by curved arrowed lines to indicate the association of the tabs with the adjacent portion of the components of the blank. The manner of association of the tab as during the folding and setting up operation will be consistent on all four corners of the blank and any suitable adhesives may be employed for the purpose of securing the tabs under the edges indicated by the arrows.

It is pointed out that the fold line 46 is folded outwardly while the score lines 48 are folded inwardly so that the corners are defined by the corners of the panels 40, 42 and 44 respectively with the surfaces 20, 22 and 24 being defined by the arcuate fold and score line 48 and score lines as well as the juncture between the edge of the portions 34 and 36 and their corresponding panels and the edges of the areas 38 and the corresponding panels where the narrow but elongated tabs, such as 60 and 68, are attached thereto. The arcuate lines 48 define the curved lower edge of the generally conical side wall surfaces 20, 22 and 24 and the circular edge 46 defines the base of the conical surface 16 delineated by the circular score line 46 and the arcuate score line 48. The flexibility of the material from which the blank is constructed will determine the final shape and symmetry of the body and the body will be normally provided with somewhat flattened but curved surface areas and various types of adhesives and coloring materials may be employed as desired for forming a structure which will be easily formed but yet sufficiently rugged in construction to enable its use in many arrangements.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the corners 18 project beyond the adjacent surfaces of the hollow body and will contact a supporting surface to cause erratic movement and noise when the hollow body is rolled on such a surface. By painting or otherwise coloring the various surfaces selected colors, a highly decorative ornament may be provided which may be suspended in any suitable manner for providing a tree decoration or other type of decorative item. The device may also be constructed in the form of a light fixture in which event the device would be constructed of material normally employed in the construction of light fixtures and have desired light transmitting properties which may be varied at the various components or portions of the device to provide a highly novel lighting effect.

Various changes in size and shape may be employed with the proportion being determined to form various geometrical configurations. Exemplary of such variations are (1) the geometric shape with inward projecting cones only and nothing projecting outward from their centers, (2) the geometric shape with the center of each cone reversed, to form a smaller cone projecting from the center of each of the eight cones, (3) a third variation is the turning of the three-cornered projections through 45, causing the inner cubical form to become two slightly irregular intersecting tetrahedra. Also the interior shape, which, at various sizes, may be constructed at a scale applicable to architecture. Indicia may be provided on various portions of the body to enable various games, puzzles and the like to be played if desired. An instruction sheet may be provided to enable assembly of the device with a color code to be employed for facilitating the instructions relating to the assembly of the device.

While the body is somewhat in the nature of a sphere, the side portions thereof are not true curves and, in effect, there is a cube-like surface on each side of the body which may be of hollow construction or in some instances may be solid.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A multiple use geometrical shape comprising a generally cubical body, the edges and sides of said body being rounded to conform to the circumference of a circle inscribed on each corner with the circles being of equal diameter and each forming the base line of an inwardly directed hollow cone, a three-sided corner protruding from the inner surface of each cone and related to each other to provide the effect of an inner cube.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each wall surface of each three-sided corner is provided with an arcuate base edge which also curves from end to end thereof along the cone inner surface.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said body is of one-piece of material and is formed of a blank of planar construction having an elongated rectangular body portion defining substantially three square areas with a T-head area on each end of the rectangular body thereof and a lateral projection at each side of the center thereof, the base line of each cone and the juncture lines with the three-sided corners being defined by scored fold lines, one corner edge of four of said three-sided corners being defined by a fold line connection between a portion of one of the T-head areas and an adhesive tab on an adjacent body panel, the base line of each cone on the cubical body being defined by a partially circular fold and score line having a radius measured from the apex of one of the corner forming panels, the fold lines defining the arcuate base edge of the three-sided corners having a radius extending to the opposite side of the circular fold line, said circular fold line and the arcuate segments of the corner fold lines extending for approximately 270 with the space between the fold lines defining the inner surface portion of a cone.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the circular fold line is an outward fold while the arcuate fold line is an inward fold with the portions of the blank disposed outwardly of the circular fold line defining the generally cubical body of the geometrical shape.

5. A blank for forming a geometrical shape in the form of a generally cubical body having rounded edges to conform with the circumference of a circle inscribed on each corner with the circles being of equal diameter and each forming the base line of an inwardly directed hollow cone, a three-sided corner protruding from the inner surface of each cone and related to each other to provide the effect of an inner cube, each wall surface of each protruding corner being provided with an arcuate base edge which also curves from end to end thereof along the cone inner surface, said blank being of planar construction and having an elongated rectangular body portion defining substantially three square areas with a T-head area on each end of the rectangular body thereof and a lateral projection at each side of the center thereof, the base line of the cone and the juncture lines with the threesided corners being defined by scored fold lines, one corner edge of four of said three-sided corners being defined by a fold line connection between a portion of one of the T-head areas and an adhesive tab on an adjacent body panel, the base line of the cone on each cubical body being defined by a partially circular fold and score line having a radius measured from the apex of one of the corner forming panels, the fold lines defining the arcuate base edge of the three-sided corners having a radius extending to the opposite side of the circular fold line, said circular fold line and the arcuate segments of the corner fold lines extending for approximately 270 with the space between the fold lines defining the inner surface portion of a cone.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the cir cular fold line is an outward fold while the arcuate fold line is an inward fold with the portions of the blank dis posed outwardly of the circular fold line defining the generally cubical body of the geometrical shape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ANTON OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 461; 345, 273146, 58, 155 

